by
Cris Ritchie
Editor
Hazard Herald (Ky)
HAZARD – Two people suspected of taking part in an elaborate scheme to steal $17,000 from a local business turned themselves in to authorities this week, while police remain on the lookout for a third suspect.
Jerry “Yad” Hurt and Sharon Hensley, both of Perry County, were wanted by police earlier this week after they were implicated in the theft, which was originally reported to the Hazard Police Department as an assault and robbery earlier this month.
Christianna Clemons was the daytime manager at U Bet in Hazard, an off-track betting parlor on Dawhare Drive, when she was taking a business deposit of more than $17,000 to a local bank on April 4. That’s when police say a woman jumped in front of Clemons’ car, assaulted her and along with two men took the car and the deposit.
Clemons, 27, of Breathitt County, originally reported the incident as a robbery, and police began a search for information about the three alleged perpetrators. But after their initial investigation, authorities determined that Clemons was also involved in the theft.
“Captain Jason Duff began working on the case, and through working information and leads, they gave some information from several different sources that began to match,” said Deputy Chief Joe Engle with the Hazard Police Department.
From there, Duff and Engle picked Clemons up and transported her to the police station where Engle said she confessed to her part, and is facing charges of theft by unlawful taking over $10,000 and falsely reporting an incident.
That’s also when police began looking for three other individuals, including Jerry “Yad” Hurt and Sharon Hensley, along with Hiram Noble of Clayhole in Breathitt County.
Captain Duff noted that both Hurt and Hensley turned themselves in at the Kentucky River Regional Jail Thursday evening. They will be facing charges of theft by unlawful taking over $10,000, a Class C felony punishable a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Noble will also be charged, once apprehended, with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000.
If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of Hiram Noble, they are asked to call the Hazard Police Department at 606-436-2222.